Collapsible bathtub



Feh, w23- MMA@ v E. VOLTERS COLLAPSIBLE BATHTUB Filed July 5*, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l Feb. 6, B923., EAMA-? E. VOLTERS COLLAPSIBLE BATHTUB Filed July, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TTORNE Y. Y

Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

NITED STATES EDWARD VOLTERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.v

COLLAPSIBL BATHTUB.

I Application led July' 5, 1921. Serial No. 482,308'.

' State of Missouri, have invented certain new and v useful Improvements in Collapsible Bathtubs, of which 4,the following is a specification.

This invention relates to 'new and useful improvements in collapsible bath-tubs and more particularly to the type illustrated in my former United Sta-tes Patent Number 1,307,942, the primary object of the invention being to generally improve the same to add tothe eiciency thereof.

More particularly, the present invention aims tol improve the corner members of the collapsible frame to prevent bulging of the flexible container supportedv within the frame, at the same time not interfering with the foldable feature of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to providesimple and easily operated means for locking the frame in an open position.

I A still further object of the invention is to 'provide the iexible container with hooks which may be quickly and easily engaged with and disengaged from the collapsible frame, other means beingl carried by the folded portions of the container for preventing these portions from sagging.

Other objects and advantages of the in- 4vention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying vdrawings forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed y'to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tub set up,

Figure 2 is an elevation of the frame partly collapsed,

Figure 3 1s a perspective view -of the'I locking feature embodied in the4 frame,

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the. improved means for supporting the container within the frame,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the same, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a lower corner of the frame, Figure 7 is a vertical section through the same.,

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of one end of my improved corner members,

Figure 9 is aperspective view of my improvided lower corner member, and

Figure l0 is a perspective detail*4 of the' l upper end of an improved corner member and fasteners carried by the container adapted for association therewith.

Referrlrig now more particularly to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the preferred embodiments 'of my invention, the collapsible frame is essentially of the same construction as that shown in my former Patent 1,307,942, and consists of sectional side barsl 11v and end bars 12 pivotally connected at their endsl nection and is provided upon its' lower edge with a lateral extension 15 forming a support for the coacting section of the bar when the frame is set up. The sections of the bars ll'and 12 are adapted to swing upwardly in order to collapse the frame and to prevent this movement when the frame is set up, the sections coacting with the lateral extension.15 areprovided each with a pivoted latch having its free endnotched for straddling the lateral extension 15. As the lower edges of the sections carrying the latches rest upon the lateral extensions 15, it will be seen that the sectional bars can neither swing upwardly or downwardly while the latches 16 are engaged with these extensions.

As in my above mentioned patent, a set of lower corner members 17 aie provided for the frame. As best seen in Figure 9, the angle of each L-shaped corner piece is bridged by a strip 18 having its ends angularly disposedto be fastened to the free ends of the arms of the corner members thereby forming a socket 19 in each corner member 1T.

Collapsible structures 20 and 21 form the side and ends respectively of the frame, the structure 20 each assuming the forni of a lazy tongs, opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to its respective upper and lower corner members 13 and 17 respectively. The collapsible structures 21 forming the ends of the frame each consist of a pair of bars pivoted -together between-r their ends, while their free ends are pivotally connected to the upper and lower corner members.

- As best seen in Figures 6., 7, 8 and 9, an E -shaped member 22 is riveted within the lower end of each corner member 13 and Athe inner faces of the arms of each corner member 13 atV the upper end thereof and forms a socketas clearly seen for a purpose which will presently appear. The flexible container indicated in its entity by the numeral 25 is in the present instance rectangular in configuration and the upper edges thereof are provided on the exterior thereof with downwardly pointing hooks 26 .which are adapted to overlap'and embrace the sectional bars 11 and 12 ofthe frame for supporting the container therein. The hooks 26 each form an integral part of a fastening plate 27 extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof. As clearly seen in Figure 5, the upper edges of 'the flexible container are folded upon themselves and are clamped between the plates 27 carrying the hooks.` and corresponding plates V28, rivets passing through these plates and containers for connecting them. The folded portions ofthe ends of vthe container are provided with double hooks 29 fastened to the container in a manner similar to the plates 27. As clearly seen in Figure 10, these double hooks 29 are adapted to overlap the-shoulders of the plate 27 upon opposite sides of the hooks 26. The latter are adapted to fit into the sockets formed in the upper ends ofthe corner members 13, ad it will therefore be ob-` vious that-the sides and ends of the flexible container will be effectively supported in upright position within the collapsible frame.

The metal parts of the inventionare preferably constructed from aluminum in order to. render the device as light as possible whereby it may be conveniently transported. As the double hooks 29 are provided for the folded portions of the container, it will be obvious that they will maintain these portions in close proximity to the sectional bars of the frame and thereby prevent the admission of water into the pockets formed by the folded portions. As the cornermembers of y the upper set in my above named patent did ciated with the lower set of corner members 17,r the frame can still be collapsed with equal facility.

Th.d foregoing description and accompanying .drawings have reference to what might .be considered to be the approved orpreferred form of my invention, l desire it to be understoodthat Inlay. make such changes i'n the construction, combination and varrangement of parts material, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible bath tub comprising a collapsible frame composed of two sets of corner members for'the upper and lower corners of the tub, collapsible structures forming the sides and ends of the frame and connected to said corner members, the upper corner members being elongated to extend the full height of the tub, and the lower ends of said upper corner members being detachably associated with the lower corner members.

2. A collapsible bath tub comprising a collapsible frame composed of two sets of .L-

lower corners of the tub, the lower corner members havin sockets therein, collapsible structures forming the sides and ends o-f the .frame and connected to said corner mem- ,carried bysaid co-acting section and adapted to straddle said lug for locking thesections together. Y

4. The combination with a collapsible frame including L-shaped corner members, a strap for each L-shaped member bridging the angle thereof and forming a socket; of, a flexible container having hooks engageable in said sockets.

5. The combination with a flexible container; of a folding frame to receive the container, the sides and ends of the frame consisting of lazy tong structures, and corner members extending the full height of the container for receiving the corners thereof and for connecting the sides and the ends of the folding frame.

6. The combination with a collapsible frame; of a flexible container having fasteners engageable with the frame for support ing the sides of the container, and retainer elements carried by certain folded portions of said container and adapted to co-operate with the fasteners for retaining the folded portions of the container in proximity to the walls thereof and for preventin the folded portions from slipping longitudmally along the ends of the 4frame ineither direction.

yshaped corner members for the upper and 7. The combination with a collapsible frame; of a iexible container adapted to be openedy to fit Within said frame, fasteners carriedby the container for engagement with the frame, and a retaining element cornprising a pair of spaced hooks carried by a folded portion of the flexible container and adapted for engagement with a fastener for retaining the folded portion of the container in proximityto a Wall thereof.

8. The combination with a frame; of' a iexible container adapted to be opened to fit Within said frame, laterally extending hooks carried by the container and having depending ends for engagement with the frame, and a retainer element carried by a folded portion of the container and including a, pair of spaced laterally projecting hooks having depending ends, said pair of hooks being adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of one of the` first mentioned hooks.

In testimony whereof I atix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDVAR-D VOLTERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN STROBEL, AUGUST MEYER. 

